FASTCOMM are USELESS!

[johnny-c]

Well, the stupidity of the people at FASTCOMM strikes again. I cannot believe that a company could be managed this badly - surely you make sure everyone has complete, correct information ESPECIALLY when it's something as big as this. A bunch of apes would do a better job.

After deciding to wait for 1 April, for thier stupid shops to launch, I spoke to them on the phone today only to be told that they would not be selling the same sentech "bundled" contracts, but you'd have to lay out R 3500 cash, AND sign up for a 24 month contract at R 499. This was in contrast to what they originally said.

Of course, I immediately calculated that:
Sentech: R 649/month
FASTCOMM: R 449/month
Seeing as the modem is R 3500, and the difference between the two montly charges is R 150/month, which is R 3600 over 24 months... I see no point in being FORCED to pay R 3500 upfront, and being locked into a contract anyways.

Rather just get it from sentech, this bunch are useless. Oh, and for those of you wanting to buy unbundled modems with NO contract, when I asked the nice unhelpful guy if they do that, he said no.

 

[DblD]

u couldnt said it better
[:I]<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by johnny-c</i>
<br />Well, the stupidity of the people at FASTCOMM strikes again. I cannot believe that a company could be managed this badly - surely you make sure everyone has complete, correct information ESPECIALLY when it's something as big as this. A bunch of apes would do a better job.

After deciding to wait for 1 April, for thier stupid shops to launch, I spoke to them on the phone today only to be told that they would not be selling the same sentech "bundled" contracts, but you'd have to lay out R 3500 cash, AND sign up for a 24 month contract at R 499. This was in contrast to what they originally said.

Of course, I immediately calculated that:
Sentech: R 649/month
FASTCOMM: R 449/month
Seeing as the modem is R 3500, and the difference between the two montly charges is R 150/month, which is R 3600 over 24 months... I see no point in being FORCED to pay R 3500 upfront, and being locked into a contract anyways.

Rather just get it from sentech, this bunch are useless. Oh, and for those of you wanting to buy unbundled modems with NO contract, when I asked the nice unhelpful guy if they do that, he said no.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

 

[madsimba]

Oh and btw - the R150 ethernet cable NOW sells for R220. Phoned fastcomm on friday. They said that they still need to update the price on the webpage. Now I wonder how the price can suddenly go up R70 in a few days.

 

[guest2013-1]

i bought mine for 150

 

[ProAsm]

johnny-c, please explain how you worked out your calculations.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Of course, I immediately calculated that:
Sentech: R 649/month
FASTCOMM: R 449/month
Seeing as the modem is R 3500, and the difference between the two montly charges is R 150/month, which is R 3600 over 24 months... I see no point in being FORCED to pay R 3500 upfront, and being locked into a contract anyways<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">R649 - R449 = R200 and not R150 ? - or am I reading it wrong.

Sentech : R649 x 24 = R15,576
Fastcomm: R449 x 24 = R10,776 + R3500 = R14,276

In my book Fastcomm is R1300 cheaper ?



<hr noshade size="1"><center><font color="blue">MyWireless Stuff</font id="blue">
<font size="1"><font color="black">The opinions expressed here are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer</font id="size1"></font id="black"></center>

 

[guest2013-1]

I dont see the need to pay upfront for a modem I can't use with any other provider BUT Sentech [8D]

Besides, johnny-c has a good point there, why buy something upfront to pay 1300 (ProAsm's calculations) cheaper but STILL be bound to a contract for 24 months.

Now, go back to my point I made in the first paragraph, if you do buy a modem that can only be used with the Sentech network, why in the hell are they forcing you to sign a 24 month contract in anycase? It's a bit overkill. If I pay 3500 for a cellphone that can ONLY work with MTN, I am sure as hell going to stay with MTN don't you think? And because you can only choose between Sentech or... Sentech, a 24 month contract is overkill... wait... de ja vu?

 

[ProAsm]

The way I look at it, is you are bound into a 2 year contract either way so why not save R1300 over the 2 years, thats like 2 months free []


<hr noshade size="1"><center><font color="blue">MyWireless Stuff</font id="blue">
<font size="1"><font color="black">The opinions expressed here are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer</font id="size1"></font id="black"></center>

 

[johnny-c]

Oops... heh I typed that message while very tired so oopsie.

Nonetheless, I'd rather spend the R 1300 extra so I don't have to deal with FastComm.

If they can't even keep their own STAFF well informed during a LAUNCH, how can they run this kind of thing effectively?

I called them on Friday - "YES we'll DEFINATELY be launching in Menlyn on 1 April". Went to menlyn on saturday, apparently they won't be ready until 16 April.

Morons.

 

[qdada]

I thought I read somewhere that buying the modem upfront means the contract you sign is a 12 month contract instead of 24 ?

 

[gripen]

Please clarify...

from what I have heard from Sentech.. the unbundled option is R3500 upfront plus R500 a month for 24 month contract and R550 for the 12 month contract.

This produces a negligible difference between Sentech 24 months bundled/unbundled except that they will be stricter on credit checking etc (apparently) for that extra R150 a month.

I wholeheartedly agree with the rest of the guys.. it makes no sense getting unbundled.. if you can get the normal 650 then get it I say. At least you then dont go broke just to start up or waste the R3500 up front.

In fact, since its 3500 either way for the modem, its cheaper since you get a return on the modem considering that you dont pay finance charges ie. interest.

normal: 570 + 24 * 650 = 16170
unbundled: 3500 + 570 + 24 * 500 = 16070

Assuming you get BUNDLED.. (im going to approximate to save time). Instead of "loaning" R3500 you are paying it off over 24 months with no interest. Lets say a rate of just 10% was in play.. that would be R350 a year or R700 total. In effect, you could invest that R700 at 12% and have about 850-900 at the end (making your modem cheaper).

Am I confused? Can anyone else provide a more accurate calculation. I hope its not too confusing [] but it does make sense if you think about it.. basically this PROVES that unbundled is NOT cheaper.

 

[ipodmusicman]

Hi there

Can you tell us more about Fastcomm and what they are offering? I went to their website and could not find anything obvious in terms of pricing, etc.

Thanks
~Glen

 

[Rhino]

PYRIT: Got to www.nowire.co.za most of the ifo is there, or sentech.co.za

 

[johnny-c]

Well, naturally their website is absolutely NOT for keeping us informed!

I agree with buying the bundled stuff.

 

[Rhino]

spose, but "apparently" its changing on the 1st April will all the new options, so it should be interesting.